He parked in the garage, then stumbled inside with his arms laden with sacks. Jennifer quickly grabbed them and put the perishables away.
“So did Williams have anything to report?"
“Yeah, a stolen red jeep. I've got the picture here in my pocket. I want you to take a gander at it and tell me if it resembles the one you saw,” he said, handing her the paper.
She examined the copy. “Yes. It looks just like it. So when do you plan on taking off for the hills?"
“As soon as I can get ready."
He went to the bedroom, changed into hiking boots, and a long sleeved shirt. After fastening his shoulder holster back around his chest, he took a small bedroll from his closet, tucked it inside the backpack along with the stun gun and a box of extra shells for his Beretta Cougar. He decided to wear a medium weight jacket as the nights turned cool. Picking up his sunglasses, he zipped them into the pocket.
He carried the backpack into the kitchen where Jennifer loaded it with sandwiches and water bottles. Miss Marple stood at his feet, but didn't attempt to rub against his boots. In fact, she sneezed and shook her head.
Jennifer laughed. “I don't think she likes your different footwear."
“Probably because of the wild scent. She's a house baby and doesn't recognize the smell."
“Maybe it will make her like me better."
He grinned as he closed and buckled the pack. “I want you to drive me up to fishing access three. I've got a hunch about where Jack might be hanging out."
“Really, where?"
“On the south side of the road, about a half mile into those hills. There's a deserted, run-down shack, and it's well hidden from the road. Sam and I found it on one of our hikes. If I remember right, there's also an old trail a jeep could probably maneuver. I know of two or three vacated places in the area, but I'm going to check out this one first."
She placed the walkie-talkies on the counter. “I've loaded these with new batteries and would feel a lot more comfortable if you took one. I won't try to contact you, but you can call me if you get into any kind of trouble."
“Good idea, I'd forgotten about them.” He placed one in a Velcro fastened pocket of the backpack. “Okay, I think I've got everything, so let's hit the road."
Jennifer dropped him off at the specified spot, made a U-turn and watched him climb up the steep bank. When he disappeared over the crest, she sighed and headed home. She spotted Peggy parked on the road near the house and pulled alongside .
“Where's Hawkman?” Peggy asked. “I saw the two of you leave together."
“I just dropped him off up in the hills. I wanted him to talk with Ken first, but he seemed set on doing this alone. He doesn't want to confront Hargrove, he just wants to find him before Jack's son gets here. Hawkman hopes to take him to his dad and maybe a son to father talk will bring Jack to his senses."
Peggy studied Jennifer, her smoky blue eyes questioning the story. “You say Hargrove's son is coming?"
“Yes."
“That's odd."
“Why don't you come over to the house and I'll tell you about it over a cup of coffee."
“Good idea."
She followed Jennifer home and parked in the driveway.
“You sure look sharp in your uniform,” Jennifer said, deactivating the alarm and opening the door.
“Thanks.” She walked straight to the phone and called Dispatch. “I'm 10-6. Here's the phone number.” After hanging up, she sat down at the kitchen bar. Okay, tell me about this son
Jennifer poured them a cup of coffee and sat opposite Peggy, then related the story about Ray Skokie.
“So, he's a stepson raised by Jack?"
“Yes."
Peggy scowled. “They must have been very close, yet something about the story doesn't fit."
Jennifer raised her brows. “What?"
“Not sure, can't put my finger on it. But I'll think about this turn of events and talk to Ken. I'll get his reaction and get back to you. By the way, has Hawkman got some way to contact you if he gets into trouble?"
“Yes, he's got a walkie-talkie."
“Good, if you get any distress signals, contact me immediately.” Peggy stood and headed for the door. “Lock up,” she yelled over her shoulder.
Jennifer waved, shut the door, set the alarm, closed the drapes, then picked up Miss Marple and cuddled the cat in her lap. Blowing out a breath of air which rippled her bangs, she settled in for what she figured would be a forty-eight hour prison term.
* * *
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Hawkman continued to climb and felt the tension in his legs. The forest had thickened and the trees grown quite tall since he and Sam discovered this hideout several years ago during one of their hikes. If he found the old place still standing, at least he'd have an advantage of staying hidden.
He ducked behind a row of bushes and got his bearings. If his memory served him right, the shack stood huddled in a stand of trees several yards ahead.
Even though he saw no evidence of jeep tracks in the grass, he skirted close to the tree line, and stayed in the shadows as he surveyed the area. When he spotted a pile of fallen lumber among the big oaks, he hesitated, then moved closer, and cautiously ventured inside the grove. There he discovered the small building had rotted and toppled over. No way could it be used for any type of shelter. He sat down on a partially decaying stump, took out one of the water bottles, and calculated his next move.
He still had plenty of light, and decided to go east toward Topsy Grade. There were several buildings still standing near the ruins of the old hotel and hot springs. Hawkman figured Hargrove wouldn't want to be spotted, and some of the structures were too close to the road. But he remembered a few shacks deeper into the hills, used by workmen during the era when the recreation area thrived. Some of those might still be usable, and could be easily reached by the jeep. Also, there'd be plenty of places to hide the vehicle.
He soon topped a hill overlooking the back of the hotel. Plopping down on the ground at the base of a big oak, he studied the area with his binoculars, but could only see a short distance before the forest closed in. He scanned the adjacent grounds for any signs of activity. Not seeing any movement, he searched for other clues. Near the edge of the trees, he detected parallel lines of fresh crushed grass leading into a shadowed opening. They looked very much like fresh tire tracks. He decided to investigate.
Bears and mountain lions were often seen in this area, so he pushed the stun gun into his belt. He didn't know if it would stop the furry beast, but it'd be worth a try if one surprised him. He'd use his .45 only if he needed to protect his life.
It would be dark within the hour, and so as not to lose sight of the trail, he made his way down the hill and followed the tracks into the woods. The darkness, silence and coolness enveloped him the deeper he trod. Suddenly, in the stillness, he heard an engine turn over. He quickly jumped behind the thick brush and hunkered down. After several seconds, Hawkman could tell by the sound, the vehicle had started moving. He stole a peek, as the red Willys jeep bounced past him. Jack Hargrove sat in the driver's seat.
Hawkman waited until the vehicle moved out of sight, then jogged down the trail. He soon approached a small building with a chimney. The shack had probably housed a workman or two for the hotel. He examined the door and found it securely fastened with a new padlock. Walking around the outside, he noted the windows had long since lost their glass, and were covered with towel-like cloths. Poking at one, he realized they'd been tacked to the frame on the inside. He shoved his finger into the corner and pushed back the material enough to view the inside. The gloominess forced him to use his Maglite to see the interior. A cot sat on one end, topped with a sleeping bag and pillow. In the corner stood a covered potty bucket. A rickety table sat on the opposite side holding a box of crackers, bottle of water, bag of chips and a kerosene lantern. A three-legged milk stool served as a chair. He couldn't see directly under the window where he sto
od, but figured it didn't matter as the man had set up living quarters. And from the looks of things, he planned on staying awhile.
His ears perked at hearing a low rumble. Glancing in the direction of the noise, he could see the beam of headlights bouncing off the tree trunks as it made its way along the rough trail. Hawkman quickly darted into the trees and hid. The jeep stopped in front of the hut, and Jack climbed out with a paper bag. Hawkman wondered where he'd gone, as he certainly hadn't been away long enough to drive into town, and the store at Copco Lake was closed. Jack dumped small pieces of dried timber out of the sack into a small circle of rocks at the side of the building, and lit a small fire. After several trips inside the shanty, he brought out the three legged stool and prepared to roast several wieners over the flame.
Once his hot dogs were well done, Hargrove hurried into the little house, and returned with buns and mustard for his dinner. He snapped open a soda and crunched on chips. Smelling the food and watching the man eat made Hawkman's stomach growl. He quietly slipped a sandwich from his pack.
After eating, Jack collected the remnants, covered the fire with dirt, and disappeared into his makeshift dwelling, closing the door. Within a few minutes, a soft light glowed through the covered windows and stayed on for about half an hour.
Pitch blackness engulfed the area when Jack extinguished the light. Hawkman could have kicked himself for not finding a good place to bed down beforehand. The cloud covered sky kept the stars and moon from throwing forth any brightness. He hoped it wouldn't rain tonight. But just as the wish passed through his mind, he heard drops hitting the leaves and felt splatters on his face.
Only one thing to do. He eased toward the jeep and carefully opened the back door hoping it wouldn't squeal or creak. He quietly crawled inside, moved a stack of stuff to make an area clear enough so he'd have room to curl up and get a few winks. Tugging the night roll out of the pack, he lay down and covered up. Just as he settled, the rain came down in torrents. A few drips came through the cloth top, and he had to move his head to avoid them. At least he didn't get completely soaked.
He'd dozed for a couple of hours when the rocking of the jeep jarred him completely awake. Hargrove had climbed into the vehicle and started it up. Hawkman crunched down and covered his head, in hopes Jack hadn't spotted anything different about the reshuffling of items. He had no idea of the time, but darkness still prevailed, but the rain had stopped. Hargrove backed up the jeep, then drove out the bumpy road to the blacktop. After approximately fifteen minutes, Hawkman thought he heard the rush of the river. When the jeep stopped, Jack jumped out without even glancing back. Hawkman quickly looked out the windshield and realized they were parked in the City's construction lot next to his own house. He hurriedly climbed out the back, tossed his pack and bed roll beside the parked road grader and followed Hargrove as he approached the deck of his house.
Hiding behind the woodpile, Hawkman drew his gun and watched Jack tiptoe up the back stairs. What the hell's he doing, he thought, preparing to move foreword as he watched the man reach down and pull something out of the wall. The moon peeped out from behind the clouds and Hawkman could see Hargrove winding a cord around his hand, then shove it into his pocket. As Jack hastened down the steps, Hawkman moved around the woodpile, never taking his eye off the sneak who now headed toward the jeep. When Hawkman saw him flip open a lighted object in his hand, he realized Hargrove had just used the electrical outlet to charge his cell phone.
“What a cheap SOB,” he muttered under his breath.
Hawkman stayed hidden and watched until the jeep turned around, headed across the bridge, and turned east on Ager Beswick Road. He strolled over and picked up his backpack, and crossed toward the deck where he piled his gear. Checking the electrical outlet, he grumbled. The cover stood open. He flipped it shut, and went around to the front door, where he deactivated the alarm and let himself inside.
He turned on the kitchen light and immediately threw up his hands. Jennifer stood in front of him clutching her gun with the barrel pointed at his chest. “Don't shoot. It's me, your husband."
She dropped her arms to her side and let out a loud sigh. “What are you doing walking in at this hour?"
“Long story. You want to hear it now or later?"
Miss Marple had followed her out of the bedroom, and stood at the sliding glass door, meowing loudly. Jennifer placed her gun on the counter, walked over to the cat and picked her up. “What's with you, baby. You've acted strange for about an hour."
“What do you mean?” Hawkman asked.
“I had her in bed with me, suddenly, she raised up, climbed over me, then looked toward the outside. She did this a couple of times, and even nudged me with her head."
“You should have paid attention. She sensed someone out there."
She twisted around. “Are you serious?"
“Yes.” He told her about how he ended up in the back of the stolen jeep and slipped out when Hargrove parked by the bridge. “I watched him come up to the deck and would have made a move if he'd tried to get into the house. But I could see he had something else in mind.” He reached over and gave the cat a pat on the head. “Miss Marple may be more of a detective than you imagined."
* * *
CHAPTER TWENTY
Jennifer frowned. “I don't understand what Jack Hargrove was doing on our deck?"
“Are you ready for this one?” Hawkman asked, raising a brow. “Charging his cell phone."
“What!"
“Yep. So he can make those harassing calls."
She put her hands on her hips. “Of all the nerve."
Hawkman grinned. “I'd like to fix that plug so he can't get it open or at least give him a shock."
“Not sure it's a good idea either way. You might make him mad enough to throw another rock through the window."
“Good point."
“Oh, before I forget. Peggy caught me coming back from taking you to the hills. She's not happy about you going without Ken."
“I didn't need him. He'll understand."
“I guess it's a man thing.” She shrugged. “I think I'm going to head back to bed and see if I can get some sleep.” She glanced up at the wall clock. “Good grief, it's three in the morning.” Carrying the cat, she put her in the bathroom. “You're going to have to sleep the rest of the night in here, little one. I need some shuteye."
The next morning, Hawkman opened the door and snickered. “Oh, boy, Miss Marple, you're in deep yogurt."
Tying the belt on her robe, Jennifer moved up behind him. “What's she done now?"
“You forgot to take the toilet paper away when you put her to bed, so we're going to have to suffer through a gigantic roll again."
“Oh, shoot, that little rascal. Well, I can't blame her, I should have removed the temptation. I think I'll just put it in a box, it's a heck of a job to roll it back on the spindle."
“Now you're thinking."
She tapped her finger on her chin. “Oh dear, when is Ray Skokie going to be arriving?"
“He'll probably call today and let me know. I figure he'll come tomorrow or the next day."
“I'll have to move her stuff into our bathroom. I didn't think about having a guest when I put her in here."
A mischievous grin played on his lips. “It means he gets a good roll of toilet paper and we have to use it out of a box."
Jennifer gave him a playful punch on the arm. “I don't think Mr. Skokie would appreciate your humor."
Hawkman reached down and picked up one the cat's toys from the floor. His eyes twinkled as he shook the cluster of small bells.
Jennifer glanced at him with a puzzled expression. “What've you got in mind?"
“Not sure, but this might come in mighty handy."
She pushed past him and gathered up the long streams of paper draped across the room. “What a mess,” she mumbled.
Hawkman laughed. “Your fault."
“Don't remind me. One definitely won't gain weight
taking care of a kitten.” She carried the bundle into their bedroom and dumped it onto the foot of the bed. “Now to find a box, preferably one with a lid."
While Jennifer busied herself with restoring the bathroom to its original order, Hawkman strolled out on the deck. He bent down on his haunches and studied the flip cover of the electrical outlet. Even though the contraption had a place where he could insert a padlock, he'd rather set a trap for Mr. Hargrove and catch him in the act. He glanced at the stairs and smiled. Heading back inside, he went to the hall closet and pulled out his fishing tackle box. He set it on the kitchen counter and removed an almost invisible fishing line from the contents.
Jennifer studied him as she swished past with an armful of dirty towels. “Are you going fishing?"
“Nope. This is going to be much more fun."
She dropped the laundry on the washer and moved back to where he stood. Scratching her head, she watched him loop the line around the cat's bell toy. “What in the heck are you doing? I hope you're not going to give that to Miss Marple, it could be dangerous."
“Don't worry, I won't.” He held up the string with the toy attached to the end and gave it a shake. It rang with a nice loud jingle. “Perfect."
She wrinkled her forehead. “I think you're losing it."
“I might be. I'll know if it will work tonight when I test it out."
“Okay, quit dodging the issue. What are you up to?"
“I'm going to set a trap for Mr. Jack Hargrove."
“I see. Would you explain a little more, please?"
Hawkman picked up the roll of fishing line, took the toy off the end and crossed to the dining room. “I'm going to run the string out the window, attach it to the railing and run it across the stair walkway. I'm hoping the line won't glisten in the dark. I'll tie the toy to the end inside the house and hope Mr. Hargrove walks into the taut line. The ringing of the bells will alert me when he's on the deck."
“You know he'll run the minute he feels it."
In for the Kill [Hawkman Series Book 9] Page 10
